Antiteratogenic Effects of ?-Carotene in Cultured Mouse Embryos Exposed to Nicotine.

ABSTRACT: After maternal intake, nicotine crosses the placental barrier and causes severe embryonic disorders and fetal death. In this study, we investigated whether ? -carotene has a beneficial effect against nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos (embryonic day 8.5) cultured for 48?h in a whole embryo culture system. Embryos exposed to nicotine (1?mM) exhibited severe morphological anomalies and apoptotic cell death, as well as increased levels of TNF- ? , IL-1 ? , and caspase 3?mRNAs, and lipid peroxidation. The levels of cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (SOD), mitochondrial manganese-dependent SOD, cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx, hypoxia inducible factor 1 ? , and Bcl-x L ?mRNAs decreased, and SOD activity was reduced compared to the control group. However, when ? -carotene (1 × 10(-7) or 5 × 10(-7) ?M) was present in cultures of embryos exposed to nicotine, these parameters improved significantly. These findings indicate that ? -carotene effectively protects against nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos through its antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

SUBMITTER: Lin C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3662118 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature